Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Could someone please give any info on growing bream in an AP system? Salinity, Ph, and what the blazes do I feed the things? They only seem to want to eat prawns which I'd rather eat myself! I've also heard conflicting reports on their apparent slow growth rates.

which post did you want a reply to lol

Sorry about that bundy, new to the forum. Not sure what happened there?

thats cool geoff, I was bored lol....welcome btw

I replied to the otherone so here it is here

Thanks for the prompt response Bundy and Nocky.

Bundy, I have done plenty of Google searching and most of what I find is government research over broad areas. Was wondering if there is anyone out there growing them in a backyard AP system? I did find some limited info from a site in WA, however they provided no details as to what they were feeding, and more importantly growth rates.

Nocky, I have some silver perch pellets arriving next week, so will try those. One thing I found from Googling was that there seems to be varying growth rates depending on where the species originates (i.e. genetic strain). 3 years sure is a long time between bbq's! I'll keep going with the fish I have, until the end of the year at least, and see what happens. The bream are certainly looking very healthy and eating alot. Just for the record, I sourced them form the Illawarra area.

Cheers...

No orries Geoff, I am obviously talking WA brem but I think it is the norm Oz wide, Do SP pellets float as bream are bottom feeders but then if train to eat on the splash probably wouldn't matter

man spelling is woeful, not even one beer yet honest bet you get the idea

Hi Geoff, welcome...

Try contacting the Freemantle Tafe... they've doen a lot of work with them...

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5140&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

And Joel (member EB) has grown them out... AFAIK... two year grow out...

P.S... where abouts in NSW are you??

They do ok in a backyard AP system, slow, but hardy so far. They eat anything smaller than them.

They be okay out my way. Wouldn't be able to eat the silvers or catfish. And I like them to grow slow.

Hey there RupertofOz,

This is the same guy that came to visit you last weekend from APR.

Sorry I couldn't stay longer to chat, had other things to attend to.

Thank you very much for your time, information was invaluable. I was very impressed with your setup.

My IBC system is due to arrive on Tuesday and am keen to stock with some trout. Can you help me out there? Would also like some hydroton....3 to 4 bags should suffice.

Geoff...

Good to see you here Geoff...

Let me know when you need the hydroton...

Will be getting some trout very shortly... as soon as I organise a tank ..

Seriously thinking of getting some of the Bream over in September when they're available...

Let me know if you want to combine an order... I'd have to go past your place on the way home from the airport anyway...

Hay Geof2222, I have Bream in my system at the moment and they are eating the floating pelets and i give them the od prawn left over from fishing bait, i keep them at 3 ppt salt and they are fine, i can notice some groth so i think if you keep them fed well they will grow reasonably well, not fast.
as said they are a good hardy fish and are good on a plate.

good luck.

Quick update,

Bream still looking good. However, only five of the larger ones (out of 14 in total) are eating the silver perch pellets I've been trying them on for the last week or so. The rest ignore them. I'm thinking they'll get used to the pellets eventually, but don't want to leave them too long, would hate to have a death on my hands.

Every three days I throw in some prawn and some worms (tiger worms from bunnings growing in my worm farms), they all eat the prawn and worms.

The bream are all in the one system (i.e. same water, pump and filter) but are seperated into two tanks. One tank with bream all at the same size 10cm, are eating the pellets, the other tank mixed with 10cm and 5cm fish are not. There are no differences whatsoever between the two tanks as far as size and water quality.

If anything I would have expected the smaller bream to eat just about anything and the larger bream to be a bit more fussy. Has anyone noticed this for bream or any other fish species?